Lecture 32. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Lecture 32. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated

Author

Morais, Sabato

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

11 pages on 5 sheets

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

Language(s)

English

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 12, Folder 4

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3fb4x52c/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3fb4x52c

Provenance

Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx12FF4_12.xml

content

Post-Biblical
32

A French writer, whose knowledge of military tactics entitles him to a hearing, referring to the defensive wars of the Jews against the aggressive Romans, says: "The seige of Jerusalem, so famous in history-being one of the most remarkable memorable in the annals of antiquity both for the severity violence of the attack assault and the firmness of the resistance--is neverthe- yet -less, in the opinion of those who understand and examine matters closely still less remarkable than the seige of Jota--pata. All which is vast and profound in the art of war, all which can be done to oppose a sagaciously planned assault attack, all which the human mind can devise, as shrewd, dashing, bold, we meet in that seige. Bravery and a determined daringness are displayed alike in Jerusalem and in Jotapata, but at the latter a marvellous conduct is seen which is lacking at the seige of the former. In Jerusalem fiery anger urged spurred on the com--battants, but in Jotapata the abilities of the Chief and the indomitable courage of his soldiers, withstood the well disciplined and well commanded Roman legions--a prudent intrepidity it was; a valor most extraordinary"

In the last lecture of my post-biblical series, I laid some stress upon the thrilling scenes of at Jotapata, and gave Josephus who led on the fearless Galileans to the desperate struggle, due credit for a masterly generalship worthy of the highest encomium. I could not praise him as a self-denying patriot, and an earnest Jew, because my mind discovered egotism and insincerity in his character. but without Nevertheless I will not attempting to forestall the opinions of others; I will let the sequel to the fall of Jotapata be the standard by which our celebrated historian shall be judged.
The silence of the grave reigned supreme. The Roman sword had turned the captured gallant city of Jotapata into a charnel house, still forty men evaded its deadly strokes. They had ventured from the height of a rock into a hollow cavern below. The country of Judea opened a refuge to fugitives fugitives in its clefts and grottos. All will remember the flight of David to the cave of Adulam, and the staying of Elijah in that of Carmel. If enough provision could be gathered, those forty men might elude the vigilance of the enemy, and watch for the opportunity to go out at large.

Josephus was the moving spirit in their midst. In vain had the Romans sought him the fallen leader among the prisoners, searched for him among the slain, so that Vespasian and Titus might wreak their vengeance on his person, or treat his corpse with contempt. Josephus had put himself beyond their reach, and now with a watchwakefulness which knew no rest was designing an escape. Once One night he stole out of his hiding place, hoping to surprise the sentinels, overcomepower them while if asleep at their posts, and flee away. He tried it again without success, but at on the third time a woman recognized him the well-known Hebrew, and the report of his having found a shelter in a cave soon spread abroad like a wild fire. The Roman general rejoiced; a redoutable chieftain would be in his power. He dis--patched two officers with a demand that Josephus should surrender on the promise of a full pardon. The demand struck terror. The reputation of the Romans for truthfulness was not above suspicion, but when a third official with whom Josephus knew was familiarly acquainted arrived, and made the same request, the fugitive agreed to submit.

What happened at that juncture in that subterranean retreat, none has ever told, save the writer whose interest it was to put on his narrative the least repulsive features. Let us hear him that we may not prejudge. Josephus was seized with a spirit akin to prophecy at that soul trying moment. The dreams which he had had dreamt, flashed before his vision, and he learned that he must forsake the cause of his brethren and go over, as the messenger of a Divine or- dis--dination -position, to the Romans, whom the God of battles had rendered victorious. But the superhuman ge--nius of which he boasted, was not appreciated by his companions. With drawn swords they surrounded him, and disloyal, craven, cowardly were the epithets by which he was addressed. The thirty [inserted above: forty] nine fugitives offered him the choice to die by his own hand, or pre--pared to be slain by theirs. They would never suffer the oppressors of Judea to glory that the defender of Jotapata had accepted their terms of the sake of dragging and enslaved existence. But Josephus had determined to live at all hazards.

With a coolness scarcely credible, he then delivered a lengthy and learned discourse on the crime of suicide, using every argument to prove that no circumstance can justify the act of putting an end to one's exist--ence. His words fell upon unwilling ears. They served only to kindle the wrath of patriots who would have died a hundred deaths rather than cringe before a heathen foe. They ran at him, and would have cut him down on the spot, if his looks of utter distress, his pitiful tones, the memory of his military services and of his great scho--larship had not softened the irritation and held his armed companions back. Finally, perceiving that he could not move them from the resolve they had taken, Josephus proposed a plan by which suicide might be avoided, except unavoidably in a single instance. They should cast lots, and he whose name was drawn out first should be kil--led by him whose name came out second, and the latter by the third, till the last was reached, who surely would not wish to live in the face of such self-sacrificing. The proposition was readily accepted, and all bared the neck to receive the deadly thrust.

Was Josephus an adept in sleight of hand performances? Among the many mental qualifications he possessed, did he reckon also jugglery? He relates that by chance, or by a providential ordination, his name was not drawn out till thirty eight had died; then his persuasive tongue induced the thirty ninth one not to resort to the lot and either kill or be killed, but accept the offer of the Roman general and live. They both surrendered and under the an escort were led to the camp of the enemies. The presence of Josephus was the sign of a tumult. Many would have pierced him through with their javilns javelins, many pressed forward to look at the chief of the heroic Galileans, but all stood and marvelled for and amazed marvelled. at his [?] He was young in years, and of a commanding appearance, and his he carried himself in just manner aloft as becoming it behooves one whose deeds had been gained for him a far-reaching renown. Titus showed him courtesy, and commended him the late Jewish general to his fathers kindness kindly consideration. Yet, Vespasian, notwithstanding the promise that he would do the captive no harm, intended him as a trophy to be sent to gladden Rome. Josephus knew what that it meant and on hearing it that he was to appear to be sent to the city on the Tiber, and

before Nero, begged that he might be granted a private interview with Vespasian. He had a communication of deep importance to impart. Brought before the Roman general the wily prisoner spoke thus: "Thou Vespasian, thinkest merely that thou hast taken Josephus captive, but I have come to thee as a messenger of great tidings. Had I not been sent by God, to thee, I know what was would be the law of the Jews in this case, and how it becomes a general to die. Wilt thou send me to Nero? Why? Are Nero's successors, it l till it comes to thy turn, to live? Thou Vespasian art Ceasar and Emperor, even thou and thy son." And having said that, Josephus asked to be kept in closer custody till his prediction was fulfilled. It is not impossible that Vespasian put faith to in the prophecy. The unnatural end of Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius warranted a belief that the monster Nero would share their fate, and the victor of many battles in Europe African and Asia, would be lifted up to the throne, but, at all events, it suited Vespasian to use the cunning prophet as an easy instrument facilitating the over--throw of the tenaciously contested capital of Judea.

For from that moment, to the end of his servile existence, Josephus sold his heart and his pen to the tyrannic power that destroyed his country and dispersed his people. The Talmud attributes to Johanan Ben Zackaï the prediction which Josephus claims as his own. The volumes of our traditions tells that when the Rabbi, who belonged to the peace party, was carried out by his friends, as if dead, beyond the walls of Jerusalem, and brought before Vespasian, he saluted the latter in these terms: "Peace be with thee O King." I shall not al discuss the question as to whom the first prognostication must be credited. To me it is immaterial, but a what assumes great vast importance in my mind is the aim and issue of the interview. With Josephus selfishness was the motive power; with Johanan the preservation of Judaism. If our historian flattered Vaspasian with the title of Emperor, it was to prevent being delivered by Nero to the executioner. If our Mishnic Sage gratified the vanity of Vaspasian it was to prevent the Torah

being cast into a pit of oblivion. For Rab--bi Johanan Ben Zackaï asked as a gift Jabne or Jamaia, that he might establish there a college-- a college which in very deed supplied breathed into Israel with an undying spiritual existence after his its political life become extinct--Josephus prayed that he might bask in the sunshine of perfidious Rome; for, according to his own statement, he was receiving precious gifts and being treated very obligingly, while Galilea, that he had deserted, was spilling her precious blood, or was obliged to drag the bonds shackles of thraldom. Joppa or Jaffa, famous in Scriptural history as the starting point of the prophet Jonah in his attempt to run away form a Divine office mission, had made a stubborn resistance. Women helped the men to fight the invaders, but the elements also conjured against the defenders. For as they took to their ships, a hurricane dashed those vessels against rocks, and they who ventured to approach the shore, were forced back into the raging sea by the Romans, or were mercilessly cut down. None was left to announce in the metropolis that all Galilee was in the throes agonies of death. At Jerusalem even the news of the fall of Jotapata had not arrived.

Gradually it was told rumored about in a subdued tone, but when the report spread everywhere, the cries of lament rent the sky. Josephus who had commanded the band of maryred heros was wept for as dead. Thirty days a general universal mourning lasted, but just as the sorrow at the supposed tragical fall of the general at Jotapata had been profound, so was the destination intense, when it was learned that Josephus had not died sword in hand, but had meanly surrendered to enjoy the attentions of the common foe. Curses loud and deep were on every lip, and a burning wish to make him feel the weight of their indignation sei--zed all. The desire, natural in hearts so embittered, was not gratified, and I, with the sensible and good Solomon Men Munk, say, that the historian student of history must thank Providence for the miraculous preservation of that illustrious writer. For he left to poseterity has eternized the memory of the gallant defender of Jotapata. he delivered the was kept alive that he might might compose the a funeral oration over to be the coffin delivered over the coffin of his unhappy people, and surely he acquitted himself with admirable exceptional talents; admirably and with capacities surpassingly great.

Identifier

p3fb4x52c

identifier

SMBx12FF4_12